Chapter 24

"Beep—Match ends!"

The giant screen in the arena flickered twice, finally displaying a significant difference in the score.

Xi Ze leaped out of his mecha, watching as the cockpit on the opposite side slowly opened. The military omega inside had a fleeting gloom on his face before he also jumped down.

"There's been no regression, but no progress either."

Xi Ze pointed at him from afar with a stern tone, "Anto, you're not putting your heart into it."

The military omega opposite him had brown hair and brown eyes. Undoubtedly, he had a ruggedly handsome appearance, but his narrow eyes and high cheekbones gave him a somewhat sharp look.

Anto let out a dry laugh. "It's not that I'm not putting effort in, but the general is terrifying like a monster. He constantly updates the highest record on the battlefield. How can ordinary soldiers like us compare?"

Xi Ze frowned fiercely and scolded coldly, "Take it seriously!"

"Many of your moves just now were redundant. There were clearly more concise and efficient attack methods available. Why didn't you use them? When you were showing off by flipping your wings, I could have ended the match with one strike."

The surrounding soldiers rushed over to watch, but Xi Ze was too lazy to engage in a verbal spat. He said coolly, "Go back and train harder. I want to see your improvement by next week."

As they brushed past each other, Anto's expression subtly changed.

Usually, he would have kept his temper in check, but the pity or mockery in his colleagues' eyes was like an evil spark igniting a fuse.

He almost couldn't help himself as he whispered, "Normally, it wouldn't matter, but everyone is watching now. Can't the admiral give me some face?"

Xi Ze suddenly stopped in his tracks. Under his military cap, his molten-gold eyes were as sharp as knives, causing Anto to involuntarily flinch.

"Will the enemy give you face when you're on the battlefield?"

The surrounding soldiers immediately fell silent, instinctively standing at attention and straightening up. They followed the lecture with practiced ease.

Anto's face alternated between pale and flushed, but he dared not retort.

"Don't treat training as just training; treat it as if it's a real battlefield. How many times have I said this?!"

"How many lives do you have to waste on superficial showmanship? Do you think war is child's play?"

"Minimize your interactions with those indulgent, corrupt, and debauched fools. You've been acting strange lately."

With that final remark, Xi Ze left Anton behind and exited the training grounds. Raising his gaze, he saw the gray-haired female insector in the stands.

"Teacher."

A smile flickered in his eyes as he adopted a respectful demeanor. "How did you find the time to come?"

The female insector, addressed as 'Teacher', spoke with a tinge of nostalgia. "You, my boy, are still as strict as ever. Aren't you afraid your soldiers might rebel under such treatment?"

Xi Ze explained softly, "As you know, mercy during training is the cruelest thing I could do to them. I must push them to their limits to ensure they return alive from battle."

"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on that."

The female insector waved it off and turned her attention to the visibly sulking young military female inside the arena.

"You and Edka are both my students. I know him well. He's accustomed to being flamboyant and proud, with an ego higher than the sky, but he doesn't have ill intentions. Just let him have his way sometimes."

Xi Ze pressed his lips together before reluctantly agreeing, "…Yes, I understand. Don't worry."

"Admiral, a drone has requested your presence."

Xi Ze turned around to see a female drone standing at the entrance of the training grounds.

Despite the distance, her hair color was identical to his own.

"Dismissed, free practice."

His expression softened as he dismissed the troops, then walked straight towards the entrance.

"What business do you have?"

Xi Ze remained indifferent, slowly removing his white gloves to tuck them into his pocket, never once meeting the drone's gaze directly.

The female drone before him had the same snowy hair and golden eyes. Her long hair was tied behind her head, adorned in the opulent attire of a noble. There was a striking resemblance between her features and Xi Ze's, yet she carried an additional warmth and gentleness.

"Can't I just come to visit you without a reason?"

He grumbled softly, his tone still gentle, "You haven't called me Father for a long time."

Xi Ze completely ignored him. After waiting a few seconds without a response, he turned around and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."

"Wait!"

"And this is for you."

Lance took out an old pocket watch from his chest. Its blue diamonds were all gone, leaving it battered and pitted. The cover of the watch faintly showed some engraved marks.

"Didn't you like this when you were young? You even said it was your lucky gift. Father had to rummage through your younger brother's junk to find it… Maybe it will bring you good luck during the battle."

Xi Ze glanced at the dilapidated item, about to make a sarcastic remark, but weariness overtook him, leaving him too drained to speak.

"Please don't come looking for me again."

Seeing that Xi Ze was determined to leave without any hesitation, Lance's expression shifted slightly, but he still managed a smile. "I'll put it on the chair beside you. If you don't want it, let it be disposed of."

Bang—

The training room door slammed shut before the omega's eyes. After lingering for a moment, the omega bent down to put the items down and left.

After a long while, the door creaked open again, revealing Xi Ze's figure.

He clicked his tongue softly, his brows furrowing as if in hesitation. Eventually, he picked up the lone, dilapidated object from the chair.

...

Distant memories, long faded, surged forth, only to be crushed into dust amidst the tempest of mental images.

In the midst of excruciating pain, he caught a glimpse of the bigger picture, realizing that all the suffering had been foreshadowed, not born overnight.

Fierce winds and blizzards raged across the vast snowfield, wreaking havoc on the already desolate landscape.

Yet, a tiny cottage nestled in the eye of the storm, its windowsill lamp swaying and clicking, casting a warm, comforting glow.

It exuded a familiar soft aura, standing absurdly yet firmly in place, like a lighthouse in the midst of ocean waves, guiding the upheaval and rebirth of destruction and renewal.

...

Rush!

Scalding water gushed from the showerhead, drenching Yale's surroundings, including the walls and floor.

Not until the warm steam filled the bathroom, dispelling the chill in the air, did he lower the water temperature and gradually douse Xi Ze's body.

This scene seemed familiar. When he had first picked up the male omega, he had done something similar.

The only difference was that back then, his feelings were cautious and unfamiliar. Now, however, they were filled with repressed icy fury.

He was in no mood to respond to the creature rubbing against his feet. Without mercy, he redirected the showerhead, splashing the male omega's face and hair, catching him off guard and causing him to choke.

"Cough... Uh!"

The stream of water was blocked by the omega's raised forearm. A faint golden glow finally struggled to illuminate, like a tiny ray piercing through the misty water, unexpectedly searing Yale's heart.

Finally, he's awake.

A surge of relief and fear overtook his anger momentarily.

His hand trembled, causing the water from the showerhead to deviate, and he belatedly realized that half of his body was losing strength.

"Cough... Dominant?"

Xi Ze opened his eyes amidst the intense pain, feeling as if every inch of his flesh was shattering and reassembling. His entire body convulsed uncontrollably.

Although his vision was still shrouded in impenetrable darkness, his wandering mental energy projected an image of the bathroom into his mind. The silhouette of the dominant insect standing before him was distinct, though his expression remained indistinct.

Nonetheless, through the extremities of his mental power, Xi Ze sensed a strong surge of anger and fear emanating from him.

Most prominently, there was a deep concern that dominated everything else.

Upon realizing this, the unbearable pain somehow became manageable.

A heavy weight settled upon his heart, making Xi Ze force out a chuckle, barely audible between his throat, "Dominant..."

He opened his mouth, struggling to whisper through labored breaths, "...Don't be angry..."

Yale's pupils constricted, and his grip on the showerhead tightened involuntarily.

In the next moment, he turned on the water to its maximum, drenching the vulnerable sides of the male's waist and the area between his legs. Xi Ze let out a low moan, curling up his body in response to the stimulation.

After rinsing for a while until the male's eyes were half-lidded and he was nearly drifting off to sleep again, Yale abruptly threw the showerhead onto the floor and grabbed the male by his collar, pulling him upright.

"What do you want?"

The words were practically ground out between his teeth, a tone he had never used with Xi Ze before.

Their faces were inches apart, their hot breaths intertwining, almost indistinguishable from one another.

Yale gazed into the male's eyes, as if looking at a door that had never opened to him despite all his attempts. Anger and helplessness alternated within him.

"Focus on healing – that's what you promised me. Didn't you say you wanted to live? If I hadn't woken up in the middle of the night, tomorrow would have found you as a frozen corpse!"

He struggled to suppress his fury, but in the end, he couldn't resist growling in a strained whisper.

The sensation of something rubbing against his feet froze in fear, daring not to move any further.

Xi Ze gasped harshly and rapidly, desperately trying to smooth out his furrowed brows.

Before Yale could become suspicious, he reached out to press against the hand on his collar, muttering repeatedly, "Alpha Ruler…"

"…."

The male insect in front of him was clearly still in a daze. Yale took a few deep breaths to suppress his anger.

Staying here would only make him feel worse; it would be better to fix the temperature control first and calm down.

He picked up the showerhead from the floor and tossed it into the male's arms, saying coldly, "Hold this. Do it yourself."

Outside the living room.

Fortunately, the thunderstorm hadn't caused a power outage, or it would have been troublesome.

The central temperature control system was outdated and couldn't automatically recover. 015 had also entered low-temperature protection mode due to the low temperature and was temporarily unable to assist.

Yale dug out a complete set of tools from a corner, pried open a section of alloy wall, and began repairing the intricate web of wires.

His hand holding the tool trembled slightly, pale and cold as if all blood had drained from it.

Lowering his gaze, he examined it, then put down the tool to clench his fist firmly. With his other hand, he repeatedly pressed on acupoints to forcibly regain composure and stability.

"Click! Beep-"

After a soft noise, warmth enveloped every corner of the house once more, and the freezing temperature began to rise gradually. 015 also started up, stammering at first.

Yale remained transfixed by the circuit before him. Only after his emotions settled somewhat did he rise and return to his room.

Yet, upon opening the bathroom door, what greeted him was not the scene of an obedient female insect gently showering under warm water.

Xi Ze was sprawled on the floor, drenched from head to toe. The showerhead lay beside him, spewing hot water aside.

Cold water would intensify the theft of body heat once it cooled down. The female insect's body was trembling slightly, and that peculiar mental energy seemed to have become frenzied, wreaking havoc within the bathroom.

Yale took another deep breath, feeling the anger that he had just managed to suppress rising again like steam about to burst through the lid of a boiling pot.

Since his transmigration, there hadn't been many instances that had made him lose control of his temper. This was one of them.

Excellent, most excellent.

But before his fury consumed his rationality, he released his soothing pheromones to prevent the female's injuries from worsening.

A rich and slightly bitter sweetness gradually permeated the air, spreading throughout the bathroom, intertwining with the steam, and seeping into every inch of the female's flesh.

Male pheromones were the finest tranquilizers, easing the excruciating pain bit by bit and bringing immense relief and relaxation.

Yale didn't wish to constantly compare him to food, but he couldn't resist the urge to sink his teeth in fiercely.

He had held back numerous times, but this time, he no longer wished to restrain himself. He decided to let his anger fuel his transgression—

"… Huh?"

Startled by the stimulus, Xi Ze let out an involuntary low moan. His hand instinctively reached for the slightly painful and itchy spot, only to touch a handful of soft hair.

Between the scolding, the biting, and the effects of the pheromones, Xi Ze finally regained some clarity.

"Male Ruler…?"

With great effort, he opened his eyes to find those lips and teeth had left his body, instead carelessly biting into the vulnerable nape of his neck, leaving sharp tooth marks as if to vent frustration.

Xi Ze chuckled indistinctly and reached out, but instead of pushing the male insect away, he patiently caressed his shoulder and neck.

"…I'm very angry right now. You've seriously provoked me."

Yale's tone was surprisingly calm when he finally released his grip after an unknown period of chewing on the other. His voice didn't reveal much, but the outermost edge of his wandering mental energy detected the dark, simmering danger lurking beneath, like molten lava suppressed deep down.

Xi Ze moved his lips but refrained from apologizing with meaningless words. He knew that wasn't what Yale wanted.

"I'm punishing you now. Stay still and don't resist."

Just as he was grappling with the pain in his head, trying to devise a plan, the male insect's tense words rang out above him, filled with anger. But...

What kind of punishment was this?

A corner of his heart suddenly softened, and the icy walls that had long stood firm cracked, allowing a gentle, warm spring breeze to seep in.

His heart was bitterly sour, yet inexplicably filled with ecstatic joy.

Xi Ze propped himself up with his elbows, his hand that had been caressing the male's spinal ridges sliding down to his waist.

He reached out to embrace Yale's waist, enveloped by the unique, crisp scent of the male before him.

Resting his chin on the male's shoulder, he almost sighed as he said,

"I've reconstructed my mental landscape."

"What?"

Yale froze, failing to react immediately.

Upon realizing what reconstructing a mental landscape entailed, his pupils constricted, and the attempt to push the female away stiffened in mid-air.

"What did you just... say?"

His voice was soft, laced with a tinge of disbelief.

The mental landscape was constructed from memories and the subconscious - in other words, from one's entire life experiences and emotions.

Though it had been severely damaged previously, as long as the foundation remained intact, there was a chance for recovery.

Reconstruction implied complete destruction and detachment.

He cast aside everything that once formed his flesh and blood, excising the putrid, festering wounds that had festered for too long, to embrace a bloody rebirth.

Noticing that Xi Ze was enduring pain, Yale instinctively intensified the emission of his pheromones.

A soothing mental energy then gathered, merging into the tempestuous mental landscape of the omega who was stirring up a storm.

That initially weakened mental energy suddenly stirred, like a caged creature granted amnesty, rubbing against Yale's thigh and side, coquettishly seeking attention.

"Why are you doing this?"

Yale finally came back to his senses, sensing the omega's body still trembling subtly beneath his palm.

His eyelashes quivered slightly, and his voice wavered, "You could have recovered gradually, haven't you already been improving?"

suppressing the anger that bubbled up within him, he gritted his teeth and whispered through clenched jaws.

"Why didn't you tell me if it had to be like this? If I hadn't woken up suddenly, would you have been in unbearable pain or frozen to death on the ground? Do you know—"

He was both furious and disappointed, his voice trembling slightly at the end with an unstable note, "Why do you always do this?"

In his arms lay the damp body of the male, a hot breath puffing against his sensitive ear... At least, it served as a reassurance that the male was still alive and well, soothing some of his lingering fear.

Yet, the male in his embrace remained oblivious, recklessly treading on that thin red line.

"A military omega isn't so easily defeated, Your Highness can rest assured."

"I wouldn't act recklessly if I didn't have some assurance. The worst that could happen is the complete loss of my mental energy, not a real threat to my life."

His voice was fragmented, his breathing visibly uneven, making his words sound anything but convincing.

Instead, it was like pouring oil on the flames of Yale's resurfacing anger.

"Is that so?"

Yale scoffed sharply, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed the bitter surge rising in his throat. He was so furious that he found himself taking deep breaths to calm down.

"I see now. I didn't rescue a male, but an indestructible mech made of bronze and iron. You feel no pain even when hurt, and as long as you can keep living, you'd willingly replace any part, even your limbs, is that it?"

"…I'm sorry."

Xi Ze fell silent for a moment before he spoke with difficulty.

Yale could sense the evasion in the male's response and frustration seeped into his tone.

"You're sorry, but you won't change, right?"

Feeling the male's anger, Xi Ze's Adam's apple moved again as he helplessly croaked, "…But there's no time left."

He had endured this passive existence for far too long. He couldn't afford to wait for a slow recovery; he needed to make a decision swiftly.

News of his abduction by the male might already have reached the other guy's ears. This place was no longer safe.

The few days of respite he'd stolen amidst this chaotic storm were a luxuriously precious gift bestowed upon him by fate.

He wished to continue living, to safeguard the male insect under his wings with tranquility. That was impossible if he continued sitting idly by and waiting for death.

There was no need to burden the male insect with the intricacies and ugliness of it all. He wanted him to stand safely on the sidelines, clean and untouched, until he had swept away all the scum. Then...

Originally, he intended to secretly complete his reconstruction without Yale's knowledge, but his consciousness became muddled amidst the excruciating pain.

Unbeknownst to him, he had already curled up beside the male insect's bed, as if being closer to that shallow breath would grant him more strength to endure.

This already spoke volumes.

"I didn't mean to frighten you, but I couldn't control myself..."

Xi Ze affectionately nuzzled the underside of Yale's chin, his soft lips accidentally brushing against the jawline, causing it to tense instantly.

He had intended to appease the male insect, but unintentionally tugged at his wound, forcing out a stifled groan.

"..."

What was this about running out of time?

Yale was taken aback, vaguely sensing the hidden, profound meaning behind those words.

He should have continued to question what the male insectoid was hiding, but his anger and heartache were in a deadlock, vying for dominance.

His ears were filled with the breaths laced with pain, continually weighing on his heart until the scale finally tipped in one direction.

"You truly are..."

Yale murmured softly, then abruptly closed his eyes after a moment, his voice carrying a hint of surrender, "Forget it."

His fingertips traced the rough scars on the male insectoid's shoulder blade, scars that had recently scabbed over, leaving him wondering if they had been torn open again.

"Does the wound hurt?"

"It doesn't...hurt."

The pain in his body was receding, replaced by an unbearable itch of a different kind.

Xi Ze endured a momentary gasp, gradually releasing his pheromones.

The faint aroma of tea gradually permeated the air, intertwining with the caramel's sweetness to create an unusually distinctive flavor.

Since earlier, the heat within his body had been intensifying continuously. In the brief conversation with the male, he was on the verge of losing control over his surging desire.

Though it was the male who initiated the flirtation, Xi Ze still asked politely, "Shall we proceed?"

Yale's expression, which had just relaxed slightly, darkened instantly at those words. "Do? Do your damned self! With your current state, I'm afraid you might die halfway through."

Xi Ze smiled. He didn't want to bring up such inappropriate topics at this moment either, but his bodily reactions were beyond his control.

However, he soon pursed his lips, suddenly worried that he might appear excessively lustful and undesirable in his male's eyes.

"Alright... Get up."

Pressing the palm of his hand against the female's head, Yale rubbed it roughly, not particularly gently.

After that incident, he had done more research and discovered that pheromones didn't always induce an omega into heat; he had simply used the wrong approach.

With a thought, the sweet, cloying atmosphere in the bathroom began to shift.

Though still sweet, the scent no longer held that heart-stirring allure; instead, it induced a warm, drowsy sensation, making one yearn to let down their guard and sleep without worry.

Yale picked up the discarded showerhead and resumed pouring hot water over the male drone's body.

The bathroom fell silent for a moment, save for the sound of cascading water and the intertwined, deep and shallow breaths of silence from both of them.

The central temperature control system finally managed to circulate warmth into the bathroom, gradually thawing the initially chilly air.

The male drone in Yale's arms seemed to have successfully navigated the perilous period of reconstructing his mental landscape, as his tense body began to unwind.

Even without deliberately sensing it, the vibrant new life force was almost overflowing, wandering and exploring within the bathroom.

Then one, two, three... countless strands of externalized mental energy ultimately adhered to Yale with a soft "pat".

Truly, it was utterly disgraceful.

Xi Ze mentally cursed upon perceiving the movement of the mental energy, yet his ears inexplicably flushed with a shy redness.

The usually reserved military drone found it difficult to openly express his feelings, but his mental energy had no such inhibitions.

Especially the mental power that was reconstructed with that cabin as its "focus," it simply could not resist the familiar, faintly refreshing aroma emanating from the alpha insectoid's body.

Contrary to the vibrant spirit energy, there was Yale, whose eyes were perpetually downturned at the corners.

"I am still very, very angry right now."

After a while, he suddenly spoke, breaking the almost tender silence in the bathroom.

Yale had indeed calmed down, but there were certain matters that had crossed his principles, issues that needed to be addressed clearly.

It could be due to conflicting ideologies, but despite his emphasis on the sanctity of life, the male still didn't know how to cherish his own body. Relying on his robust vitality, he abused himself relentlessly.

Xi Ze said he wanted to live, but he was merely living for the sake of living. Perhaps it was for revenge, or perhaps there were other motives at play.

Regardless, he wasn't... genuinely striving for his own well-being.

The male in his arms tensed up slightly and struggled to catch his breath before speaking in a labored, intermittent manner.

"What should I do... Maybe you could punish me until your anger subsides?"

"You have no idea what I'm talking about."

Yale barely lifted an eyelid, pushing the male insect away to lean against the wall with his legs bent, starting to rinse the bloodied area on the male's front.

He had never been able to save him.

This thought made Yale feel somewhat stifled.

But since the issue couldn't be avoided, he would strive to find a solution, knowing that being anxious was useless if there were no shortcuts.

Just like when he decided to take in the stray puppy that had clung to him, he had accepted the responsibility of caring for it, not dwelling on how much money or effort it would require. He simply moved forward and lived his life to the fullest.

Xi Ze dodged the flow of water, gripping the bottom of the alpha's pajamas again and hugging him tightly, leaving large damp patches on the fabric.

In a low voice, he said, "Please don't... Alpha, tell me."

"Are you aware that leaving sentences unfinished is annoying?"

Yale grunted but didn't hide his thoughts, making the male guess.

"Not because you rebuilt in secret without telling me, but because of your attitude towards your own body and life, as if it doesn't matter at all."

"Are military drones immune to pain and not capable of dying easily? Can't you take better care of yourself?"

Xi Ze trembled all over, blinking slowly, as if in disbelief.

What he had unconsciously avoided and dared not dwell on was laid bare before him by the male drone with no reservations, exposed in its raw honesty.

It left him with no room to pretend ignorance or evade the truth.

It was an unguarded, scorching sincerity and genuine concern that could burn the heart.

After a moment, he couldn't help but laugh softly.

Yale had no stake in this, was even a complete burden, didn't he? So why could Yale act this way?

Caring about his feelings so sincerely, almost without seeking anything in return, and even becoming angry and worried for him.

He suddenly recalled the distant memory that had just surfaced.

He had assumed that those trifles were worn down by the unceasing warfare, their specifics and associated emotions long lost to memory.

Yet, it seemed that wasn't the case.

He had never forgotten.

And at least before the moment he "died" under that blood-stained sky, in the very second before he gazed upon it, he still yearned for even a fleeting glance of that false and stingy affection.

But the crows feasting on flesh in the battlefield have no pity for the grotesque remains. The once gloriously decorated genius admiral was no more; only a shattered, scarred husk remained.

Fortunately, fortunately...

On that snowy night, Yale happened to pass through that dim alley and, in passing, rescued the dying him.

It was as if an indifferent deity, observing his solitary journey through life, filled with misery and woe, had at last stirred a hint of compassion.

Xi Ze's eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his lips curling up gently.

A low, somewhat discontented murmur reached his ear, the male complaining that he shouldn't always leave his sentences hanging like that; it was truly irritating.

It had naturally evolved into when it would be appropriate to schedule a doctor's visit for an examination...

He was unexpectedly moved to such an extent.

This was unimaginable even a few weeks ago, let alone in the first half of his life.

There were no grand oaths, no insincere sweet nothings, and not much concrete affection involved.

Yet, this male insect was so gentle yet powerful, principled, and empathetic. He himself radiated like a star.

Through the thin layer of fabric, he could sense the heartbeat close at hand.

Like an incredibly stable anchor, the other end kept him from plummeting to his ruinous end.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Yale turned his head slightly to look at the shoulder. The female insect before him seemed to be lost in thought for some reason since a while ago.

Recalling the breathtaking scene reconstruction by the female insect, he couldn't help but worry about any potential aftermath.

"…Did the mental landscape reconstruction really work? You didn't turn into an idiot, did you?"

"How could that be."

Xi Ze buried his face in Yale's embrace and chuckled softly. "I feel great now… better than ever before."

Yale clicked his tongue. "Oh no, you really did become silly."

He turned off the water faucet, pulled the towel down to cover the male omega, and called out '015' towards the door. Soon, hurried wheels scurried in response.

Submissively lowering his head to let his damp hair be tousled, Xi Ze's eyes darkened slightly as he recalled some recent unusual occurrences.

He wondered how much that fool had noticed and what desperate actions he might take. However, it wouldn't change the outcome at all.

Five years ago, Anto not shooting him in the head was the biggest mistake of his life.

Very soon…

He could sense that during his recovery, his damaged self-healing ability was gradually regaining strength, and the speed at which his wounds were healing was increasing.

Given just a month, or even less, everything would fall into place.

It's happening soon.

Author's Note:

Ramble:

The general is the type who appears fierce and strict (which he genuinely is), but once someone captures his heart, he would devotedly give himself to them.

Yeye is no different, a beautiful, powerful, and tragic figure. But eventually, they will find redemption in each other's love and give each other preferential affection. The author is deeply fond of this theme... Let's all enjoy this delicious meal together (slurps saliva).